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| WHO says COVID-19 remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). WHO's the highest alert is PHEIC. |
COVID-19 remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The PHEIC is WHO's the highest level of alert.
The announcement came despite the number of weekly deaths nearing its lowest point since the pandemic began.
Following its quarterly assessment meeting last week, the WHO's International Health Regulations Emergency Committee stated that, despite a decrease in severe COVID-19 cases and a decrease in weekly deaths, COVID-19 deaths remain high when compared to other respiratory viruses.
The full extent of the complications and post-COVID-19 conditions were also warned of.
The outbreak could also spread during the coming winter season in the Northern Hemisphere, according to the committee.
Meanwhile, current gaps in global COVID-19 surveillance have hampered early detection and evaluation of the virus's evolution.
The committee has stated that the genetic and antigenic characteristics of future virus variants cannot be reliably predicted due to the virus's expected further evolution.
The committee warned that evolving variants could pose challenges to current vaccines and therapeutics.
In light of the preceding, the committee concluded that "continued international response coordination is required," that the situation is fluid and requires regular assessments, and that the PHEIC should be shut down as safely as possible when it is deemed feasible.
The committee recommended that three key priorities be prioritized in the future: strengthening surveillance and achieving vaccination targets for at-risk groups; increasing access to affordable therapeutics, and strengthening pandemic preparedness planning while protecting the most vulnerable groups.